Fear God for Salvation

We must have a reverent fear of God to receive salvation. If asked, most Christians today would claim that God does not want His children to fear Him. Their claims demonstrate their lack of knowledge of the Bible, which contains the words of life from God.

Prevailing Belief in Christian Churches Today

There is a prevailing belief that the works of the Old Testament are misleading, or worse, not trustworthy. Most Christian churches in the world today would have their congregation believe that no matter their actions, God will receive them with open arms. They ignore every account in the Bible that describes God’s wrath toward those who do not fear Him and do evil in His eyes. They want their congregations to believe God will always overlook every transgression and embrace them. Is this a reasonable or logical assumption?  

When Did God Say to Fear Him?

The Bible has many examples within the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) of God instructing us to fear Him.  

Genesis 22:12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe … so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. …

  More than 20 examples of our need to fear God appear in the Pentateuch alone. Whenever God instructs His people to follow His laws, commands, and decrees, God instructs them to fear Him so they may prosper.

Why does God tell us to fear Him?

  How can God’s people prosper by fearing Him? The earliest examples infer that the fear of God prevents His people from straying from His commands. Without the fear of the consequences of not obeying God’s commands, there is no incentive to be obedient.

Deuteronomy 6:24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.

  Even King Solomon who was given God’s wisdom proclaimed that we must fear God.  

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

  Why did King Solomon say, “Fear God” and not just “keep His commandments”? Without the fear of God, we will not faithfully keep God’s commandments. Indeed, God would not have instructed us to “Fear God” if it wasn’t essential to our salvation.  Let us have a reverent fear of God and strive to know and keep His commandments.